Alice Ghostley (1926-2007), American actress best-known for her television roles as "Alice" on ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'', as "Esmerelda" on ''Bewitched'' (1969-72) and as Bernice Clifton on ''Designing Women''

Alice Ghostley (1926-2007), American actress best-known for her television roles as "Alice" on ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'', as "Esmerelda" on ''Bewitched'' (1969-72) and as Bernice Clifton on ''Designing Women''

This article should be cited as:<blockquote>"Alice Ghostley", by Will Johnson, [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com], at CountyHistorian.com, professional genealogist copyright 2007-8, all rights reserved.</blockquote>

This page is the '''most complete and thorough''' biography of Alice Ghostley which exists. It's however not finished. So if you have something to add let me know.

This page is the '''most complete and thorough''' biography of Alice Ghostley which exists. It's however not finished. So if you have something to add let me know.

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This article written and copyright 2008 by Will Johnson, Freelance Biographer and Professional Genealogist, All Rights Reserved. You may email me at [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com]

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You may email me at [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com]

Please also visit my version of this article [http://knol.google.com/k/will-johnson/alice-ghostley/4hmquk6fx4gu/5# here on Knol] and Review it and Rate it! Thanks.

Please also visit my version of this article [http://knol.google.com/k/will-johnson/alice-ghostley/4hmquk6fx4gu/5# here on Knol] and Review it and Rate it! Thanks.

By 1930, the family had moved to Siloam Springs, [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton County]], [[Arkansas]] where her father Harry was buried in 1933 having died at a hospital in Missouri that year. She attended school in Siloam Springs through the sixth grade, and then the family moved to Henryetta, Okmulgee County, [[Oklahoma]] where Alice finished growing up and graduated from high school.

By 1930, the family had moved to Siloam Springs, [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton County]], [[Arkansas]] where her father Harry was buried in 1933 having died at a hospital in Missouri that year. She attended school in Siloam Springs through the sixth grade, and then the family moved to Henryetta, Okmulgee County, [[Oklahoma]] where Alice finished growing up and graduated from high school.

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Afterwards Alice went to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where she majored in English and drama, but dropped out, to move with her older sister Gladys to New York City. Gladys got a job as a secretary at Columbia University, while Alice got her first job as an usher at the Imperial Theatre for $11.88 a week. She studied singing, aiming for a career in that area, but at her 648th audition, as she relates, she was accosted by pianist-composer George Wood. George hated his first name and so he was always credited as "G. Wood". He persuaded her, that what she really was, was a comedienne. The two of them begun doing comedy in small venues where she was spotted by Imogene Coca.

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Afterwards Alice went to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where she majored in English and drama, but dropped out, to move with her older sister Gladys to New York City. Gladys got a job as a secretary at Columbia University, while Alice got her first job as an usher at the Imperial Theatre for $11.88 a week. She studied singing, aiming for a career in that area, but at her 648th audition, as she relates, she was accosted by pianist-composer George Wood. (George hated his first name and so he was always credited as "G. Wood".) He persuaded her, that what she really was, was a comedienne. The two of them begun doing comedy in small venues where she was spotted by [[Imogene Coca]].

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Alice performed in summer stock in Maryland in a "new musical revue by G Wood" called ''Of Suger And Spice'', Jul 1950

<td>One source states that it was Imogene who told Leonard Sillman about Ghostley, while another credits Murray Grand. Whoever did it, Leonard put Ghostley in his annual revue ''New Faces'' of 1952 where she had a hit with her rendition of the song "The Boston Beguine". ''New Faces'' played Broadway for a year, and then toured to a 28-week engagement in Chicago, followed up by stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Four of the other aspiring members of the revue that year were [[Paul Lynde]], [[Ronny Graham]], [[Robert Clary]] and [[Eartha Kitt]], and one of the writers, in his first work for the Broadway theater, [[Mel Brooks]]. The tour was so successful, that "New Faces" was made into a Cinemascope production released in 1954, and Alice again was a co-star as was Eartha Kitt, but Paul Lynde's name does not appear in the advertisement. As amateurs, she and her sister Gladys once did an act together and were given the eerie-sounding billing of "The Ghostley Sisters."</td></tr></table>

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<td>Imogene's friend Leonard Sillman had been producing an annual revue called ''New Faces'' ever since his first one in 1934 which launched the careers of Imogene herself and also [[Henry Fonda]]. One source states that it was Imogene who told Leonard Sillman about Ghostley, while another credits Murray Grand with that find.

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Whoever did it, Leonard put Ghostley in his annual revue ''New Faces'' of 1952 where she had a hit with her rendition of the song "The Boston Beguine". ''New Faces'' played Broadway for a year, and then toured to a 28-week engagement in Chicago, followed up by stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Four of the other aspiring members of the revue that year were [[Paul Lynde]], [[Ronny Graham]], [[Robert Clary]] and [[Eartha Kitt]], and one of the writers, in his first work for the Broadway theater, [[Mel Brooks]]. The tour was so successful, that "New Faces" was made into a Cinemascope production released in 1954, and Alice again was a co-star as was Eartha Kitt, but Paul Lynde's name does not appear in the advertisement. As amateurs, she and her sister Gladys once did an act together and were given the eerie-sounding billing of "The Ghostley Sisters."</td></tr></table>

Her act, as reported many years later consisted of : "Appearing in horn-rimmed glasses and dressed in a frumpy black sweater, she stumbled across the stage as a bewildered, sexually repressed young woman, crooning to a beguine beat about her ill-fated romance with a Harvard man, underneath a 'Voodoo moon' in Boston."

Her act, as reported many years later consisted of : "Appearing in horn-rimmed glasses and dressed in a frumpy black sweater, she stumbled across the stage as a bewildered, sexually repressed young woman, crooning to a beguine beat about her ill-fated romance with a Harvard man, underneath a 'Voodoo moon' in Boston."

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Some sources in error will state that Alice and Felice married in 1953. This is probably based on a bad reading on one of several early interviews which Alice gave. However, the clear indication of their marriage year, is the interview in 1988 stating "the couple will this Autumn celebrate their thirty-seventh anniversary".

Some sources in error will state that Alice and Felice married in 1953. This is probably based on a bad reading on one of several early interviews which Alice gave. However, the clear indication of their marriage year, is the interview in 1988 stating "the couple will this Autumn celebrate their thirty-seventh anniversary".

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Alice and Felice appeared together in a show called "All In One" in 1955, although in different bits. She got to sing opera in one bit, and Felice played in Tennessee William's one-actor "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" in another bit in the same show.</td><td>http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2006/71/7489936_114223478208.jpg Felice Orlandi</td></tr></table>

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Alice and Felice appeared together in a show called "All In One" in 1955, although in different bits. She got to sing opera in one bit, and Felice played in Tennessee William's one-actor "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" in another bit in the same show.</td><td>http://www.findagrave.com/photoThumbnails/photos/2006/71/7489936_114223478208.jpg Felice Orlandi</td></tr></table>

On Broadway, Alice had parts in 1956's "Shangri-La" a musical. Also and again on Broadway but in an as-yet-unknown-year in "Maybe Tuesday" a comedy. In March 1957 she appeared in the live show "Cinderella", as one of the ugly stepsisters with Kaye Ballard playing the other one, and with Julie Andrews as Cinderella. Watch the "Making of Cinderella" on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEs8Bz801NA Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9zbXuTBA-U Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhEl93xPtKk Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT48hmNUnqE Part 4]. Note: Alice does not appear in this documentary, but there are long talking-head segments with both Julie and Kaye.

On Broadway, Alice had parts in 1956's "Shangri-La" a musical. Also and again on Broadway but in an as-yet-unknown-year in "Maybe Tuesday" a comedy. In March 1957 she appeared in the live show "Cinderella", as one of the ugly stepsisters with Kaye Ballard playing the other one, and with Julie Andrews as Cinderella. Watch the "Making of Cinderella" on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEs8Bz801NA Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9zbXuTBA-U Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhEl93xPtKk Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT48hmNUnqE Part 4]. Note: Alice does not appear in this documentary, but there are long talking-head segments with both Julie and Kaye.

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Later Ghostley's character "Esmerelda" was introduced as a regular on the series in 1969, after the May 1968 death of [[Marion Lorne]], the actress who played the lovable-but-befuddled "Aunt Clara". The studio wanted another comedic-actress to be introduced to the series to replace her, but in a different role. Esmerelda is typically summoned when Samantha needs a babysitter. She is a shy bundle-of-nerves who often fades slowly away when nervous. When she isn't nervous her spell-casting is often very good, but when she is nervous all havoc breaks loose.

Later Ghostley's character "Esmerelda" was introduced as a regular on the series in 1969, after the May 1968 death of [[Marion Lorne]], the actress who played the lovable-but-befuddled "Aunt Clara". The studio wanted another comedic-actress to be introduced to the series to replace her, but in a different role. Esmerelda is typically summoned when Samantha needs a babysitter. She is a shy bundle-of-nerves who often fades slowly away when nervous. When she isn't nervous her spell-casting is often very good, but when she is nervous all havoc breaks loose.

<td>You can watch Episode #170 aka Season 6, Episode 2 "Samantha's Yoo-Hoo Maid" which first aired 25 Sep 1969, and where Esmerelda first appears [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uic5ivryOyA Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvsG7GxCIME Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWsyXo5NPJk Part 3]. In this episode, Endora wants Samantha to hire a maid, and suggests Esmerelda who is losing her self-confidence and with it her powers. She fades away when she is nervous, and when she sneezes either something appears for a short while, or somebody is levitated briefly.

<td>You can watch Episode #170 aka Season 6, Episode 2 "Samantha's Yoo-Hoo Maid" which first aired 25 Sep 1969, and where Esmerelda first appears [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uic5ivryOyA Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvsG7GxCIME Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWsyXo5NPJk Part 3]. In this episode, Endora wants Samantha to hire a maid, and suggests Esmerelda who is losing her self-confidence and with it her powers. She fades away when she is nervous, and when she sneezes either something appears for a short while, or somebody is levitated briefly.

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In Episode 193 aka Season 6, Episode 25 "Okay, Who's the Wise Witch?", Samantha, Darrin, Endora and Dr. Bombay are all caught in a magical vapor lock around the house due to Samantha's non-use of powers. Esmerelda only appears incidentally. You can watch it here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGit_N58v4U Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNL_w172qOY Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Ns2seW8u4 Part 3].</td>

In Episode 193 aka Season 6, Episode 25 "Okay, Who's the Wise Witch?", Samantha, Darrin, Endora and Dr. Bombay are all caught in a magical vapor lock around the house due to Samantha's non-use of powers. Esmerelda only appears incidentally. You can watch it here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGit_N58v4U Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNL_w172qOY Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Ns2seW8u4 Part 3].</td>

In Episode 230 aka Season 8 Episode 4 "Samantha's Not-So-Leaning Tower of Pisa", the Stephens take a vacation to Italy. Esmerelda pops in to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In Episode 230 aka Season 8 Episode 4 "Samantha's Not-So-Leaning Tower of Pisa", the Stephens take a vacation to Italy. Esmerelda pops in to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

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Read my write-up on "[http://knol.google.com/k/will-johnson/list-of-the-episodes-of-bewitched/4hmquk6fx4gu/100#view Every episode of Bewitched]" on Knol, where you can buy or watch most of the 254 episodes.

===Later Career and Death===

===Later Career and Death===

In it's third season in 1970, Alice became cousin "Alice" on the TV-series ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'' starring Andy Griffith, after the "Aunt Bea" character was written out of the script. She played in this role for one year. Alice and Felice in 1970 moved into their first house in the Hollywood Hills, previously having rented, mostly living in apartments in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. In 1971 she appeared with Patty Duke in the movie ''Two on a Bench'', you can watch an excerpt [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHCGy0cgN-c here], as the kleptomaniac mother. Very funny.

In it's third season in 1970, Alice became cousin "Alice" on the TV-series ''Mayberry, R.F.D.'' starring Andy Griffith, after the "Aunt Bea" character was written out of the script. She played in this role for one year. Alice and Felice in 1970 moved into their first house in the Hollywood Hills, previously having rented, mostly living in apartments in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. In 1971 she appeared with Patty Duke in the movie ''Two on a Bench'', you can watch an excerpt [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHCGy0cgN-c here], as the kleptomaniac mother. Very funny.

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In 1973 she again teamed up with Julie Andrews, playing her roommate and foil, in the ABC "The Julie Andrews Hour". Watch it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUIiDRHem7Q here] on YouTube. (Note: Alice appears only for the few few minutes, the rest is Julie dancing and singing.) Alice appeared in 1976's film ''Gator'' starring Bert Reynolds. She appeared in an episode of the TV-series ''Good Times'' (with J.J. Walker), playing an adoption agent. You can watch her in this role [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3qOftMBXFw here], she begins speaking at time 7:50. It's just a '''tiny''' bit saccharin so you've been warned!

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From 1969 to 1973, she appeared in five episodes of ''Love, American Style''. In 1973 she again teamed up with Julie Andrews, playing her roommate and foil, in the ABC "The Julie Andrews Hour". Watch it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUIiDRHem7Q here] on YouTube. (Note: Alice appears only for the few few minutes, the rest is Julie dancing and singing.) Alice appeared in 1976's film ''Gator'' starring Bert Reynolds. She appeared as "Mrs. Dodds" in three episodes of the TV-series ''Good Times'' (with J.J. Walker), playing an adoption agent. You can watch her in this role [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3qOftMBXFw here], she begins speaking at time 7:50. It's just a '''tiny''' bit saccharin so you've been warned!

In 1978 she took over the role of Miss Hannigan, the alcoholic matron of the orphanage, in the long-running Broadway play ''Annie''. Alice appears [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51v8Wtd8QYQ here on YouTube] in an undated "children's" show with Charles Nelson Reilly and Jonathan Harris (that guy who played the evil Dr. Smith on the TV-series ''Lost In Space'').

In 1978 she took over the role of Miss Hannigan, the alcoholic matron of the orphanage, in the long-running Broadway play ''Annie''. Alice appears [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51v8Wtd8QYQ here on YouTube] in an undated "children's" show with Charles Nelson Reilly and Jonathan Harris (that guy who played the evil Dr. Smith on the TV-series ''Lost In Space'').

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<table><tr><td>She played shop-teacher Mrs. Murdock in the 1978 movie ''Grease'' starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. You can see her [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jIP5RXE6s here] on YouTube. She was also in the 1978 movie ''Rabbit Test'' with [[Paul Lynde]] which was very bad.

<table><tr><td>She played shop-teacher Mrs. Murdock in the 1978 movie ''Grease'' starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. You can see her [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jIP5RXE6s here] on YouTube. She was also in the 1978 movie ''Rabbit Test'' with [[Paul Lynde]] which was very bad.

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In 1986/7 she became a regular on the TV-series ''Designing Women'' as the eccentric "Bernice Clifton", for which she received an Emmy nomination in 1992. She appeared sporadically on that show until the show was cancelled in 1993. Watch one of her most memorable episodes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTI_EawgRD8 here] on YouTube, and another one [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g9p-Y_nBdc here].

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In 1986/7 she became a regular on the TV-series ''Designing Women'' as the eccentric "Bernice Clifton", appearing in 33 episodes, for which she received an Emmy nomination in 1992. She appeared sporadically on that show until the show was cancelled in 1993. Watch one of her most memorable episodes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTI_EawgRD8 here] on YouTube, and another one [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g9p-Y_nBdc here].

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As Irna, she appeared in six episodes of the TV-series ''Evening Shade''. In 2000, she appeared in four episodes of the TV-series ''Passions''.

Her husband Felice died 21 May 2003 from lung cancer, and Alice died at her home in Studio City, California on 21 Sep 2007 after a battle with colon cancer a series of strokes. </td><td>http://www.tvland.com/photogallery/photos/Designing-women-Alice-Ghostley.jpg</td>

Her husband Felice died 21 May 2003 from lung cancer, and Alice died at her home in Studio City, California on 21 Sep 2007 after a battle with colon cancer a series of strokes. </td><td>http://www.tvland.com/photogallery/photos/Designing-women-Alice-Ghostley.jpg</td>

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Harry F Ghostley ([http://www.familysearch.org AFN 21FQ-2V7]) was born 10 May 1884 in [[Minnesota]] to Harry Ghostley and his wife Margaret Anna Walker. Harry is living with his widowed mother in the Special 1905 Minnesota State Census.

Harry F Ghostley ([http://www.familysearch.org AFN 21FQ-2V7]) was born 10 May 1884 in [[Minnesota]] to Harry Ghostley and his wife Margaret Anna Walker. Harry is living with his widowed mother in the Special 1905 Minnesota State Census.

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By 1910 Harry has moved to Portland, Multnomah County, [[Oregon]] where he is listed as single and a boarder. By 1920 he is in the US Panama Canal Zone evidently in the armed forces. That year or the next, he married [[#Edna M Rooney|Edna Rooney]]. The family lived in both Oklahoma and Missouri before locating to Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas by 1930.

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By 1910 Harry has moved to Portland, Multnomah County, [[Oregon]] where he is listed as single and a boarder. By 1920 he is in the US Panama Canal Zone evidently in the armed forces. That year or the next, he married [[#Edna M Rooney|Edna Rooney]]. Between 1922 and 1924 the family moved to Eve, Vernon County, Missouri where that year their daughter [[#Alice Ghostley|Alice]] was born. By 1930 they had located in Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas.

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Harry Ghostley died in 23 Oct 1933 in a Kansas City, Missouri hospital, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas.

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Harry Ghostley died in 23 Oct 1933 in a Kansas City, Missouri hospital, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas. At the time of his death he was a station master for "K.C.S." (Kansas City Southern?)

===Primary Sources for 2===

===Primary Sources for 2===

*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=MNstatecen%2c&rank=0&=%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c&gsfn=harry&gsln=ghostley&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&pcat=35&fh=1&recid=1774378&recoff=1+3 Minnesota Territorial and State Census, 1849-1905] for Census year 1905 showing : "Harry F Ghostley, born Minnesota, enumerated in Champlin, Hennepin County, Minnesota, born about 1884" living with his apparent mother Margaret age 52

*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=MNstatecen%2c&rank=0&=%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c%2c&gsfn=harry&gsln=ghostley&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&pcat=35&fh=1&recid=1774378&recoff=1+3 Minnesota Territorial and State Census, 1849-1905] for Census year 1905 showing : "Harry F Ghostley, born Minnesota, enumerated in Champlin, Hennepin County, Minnesota, born about 1884" living with his apparent mother Margaret age 52